Lynett-Haggerty Family Receives President’s Medal

Oct 9, 2012
Members of the Lynett-Haggerty family were presented with The University of Scranton’s President’s Medal at the President’s Business Council (PBC) Eleventh Annual Award Dinner on Oct. 4 at The Pierre in New York City. From left are George V. Lynett, Esq., William R. Lynett, University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., Cecelia L. Haggerty, Edward J. Lynett Jr., and Mary Beth Farrell ’79, chair of the President’s Business Council.
Members of the Lynett-Haggerty family were presented with The University of Scranton’s President’s Medal at the President’s Business Council (PBC) Eleventh Annual Award Dinner on Oct. 4 at The Pierre in New York City. From left are George V. Lynett, Esq., William R. Lynett, University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., Cecelia L. Haggerty, Edward J. Lynett Jr., and Mary Beth Farrell ’79, chair of the President’s Business Council.

Members of the Lynett-Haggerty family, owners of Times-Shamrock Communications, were presented with The University of Scranton’s President’s Medal at the President’s Business Council (PBC) Eleventh Annual Award Dinner on Oct. 4 at The Pierre in New York City. This was the first time the honor was bestowed to a family ­ – Cecelia L. Haggerty, Edward J. Lynett Jr. ’65, George V. Lynett, Esq., G’71, and William R. Lynett ’72.

Proceeds from the black-tie gala, which was attended by nearly 550 guests and raised $1 million, support the University’s Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund. Presidential Scholarships are four-year, full-tuition, merit-based scholarships awarded to the top students entering the Jesuit university’s freshman class each year.

Bradley M. Wierbowski ’13, a double major in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and English and a participant in the University’s Honors Program, spoke on behalf of the Presidential Scholars at the ceremony. He credited the scholarship for allowing him the freedom from financial constraints to pursue his “disparate double major.”

“The Presidential Scholarship played a huge role in helping me to find my place at the University, and since then, it’s continued to enable so much of what I’ve been able to do and experience during my four years here,” said Wierbowksi. “I entered into my freshman year torn between my two great interests ­– biology and English literature – but where other universities had assured me that it would be a near-impossibility to do both, I’ve been able to – and really, encouraged to – pursue these interests side by side at Scranton.”

Wierbowski is the recipient a 2012-2013 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation’s most coveted honors in science, mathematics and engineering, in addition to national awards recognizing his research in English.

In his remarks, University President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., called the commitment of the Lynett Haggerty family to the University “remarkable.”

“Each of these four siblings is a former member of our Board of Trustees. Ed and Celia’s late husband, Attorney Jim Haggerty, were board chairs. The total number of years of service to our Board of Trustees for those five individuals totals over 38 years,” said Father Quinn. “(W)e honor a family for their business success and extraordinary compassion for, and commitment to, others.”

George Lynett also acknowledged the extensive connections he and his siblings have had with the University as he accepted the award on their behalf.

“We know we are in great company. We hope and trust that our close connection to the University will remain strong through the efforts of the next generation of Lynetts and Haggertys,” said Lynett.

Also speaking at the event were Mary Beth Farrell ’79, University of Scranton trustee, chair of the President’s Business Council and former President’s Medal recipient.

Dinner co-chairs for the event were Patty Clifford ’86 and Joe Vaszily ’95.

Under the stewardship of the third-generation Lynetts, The Scranton Times-Tribune, which has grown to become Times-Shamrock Communications, has flourished.
The Scranton Times became the first daily paper in the region to run color photos. They built a new state-of-the-art facility in Scott Township that improved printing production, quality, efficiency and capacity. They expanded their market through acquisition and the development of new publications. This past February, they completed their successful transition to the fourth generation of leadership (Matthew Haggerty, Bobby Lynett, George V. Lynett Jr., and Scott Lynett). Today, Times-Shamrock Communications currently controls 28 newsprint operations in seven states, 11 broadcast radio stations in five states, an internet division and four separate corporations servicing the newspaper printing and distribution process.


Natives of Scranton, the Lynett-Haggerty family is very active in the local community through their service on numerous boards and philanthropic interests. They are strong supporters of Catholic and Jesuit education.



In presenting an honoree with the President’s Medal, the University and the PBC recognize excellence in their field and extraordinary compassion for others.

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